Moving means for cored building blocks



Nov. 11, 1952 A. R. FALKNER 2,617,548

MOVING MEANS FOR CORED BUILDING BLOCKS Filed March 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HL BERT .2 FHA kms 2.

Nov. 11, 1952 A. R. FALKNER ,6 7

MOVING MEANS FOR CORED BUILDING BLOCKS Filed March 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet s 44,5527 1? FHL K'AAEE.

" Nov. 11, 1952 R, FALKNER 2,617,548

MOVING MEANS FOR CORED BUILDING BLOCKS Filed March 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6'4 155/97 R FHLKNEE.

S Hyman;

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 OFFICE MOVING MEANS FOR CORED BUILDING BLOCKS Albert R. Falkner, New Kensington, Pa.

' Application March 15, 1947, Serial No. 734,926

12 Claims. (01. 214-115) I r 1 This invention is an improvement in block transfer lifting mechanism, particularly designed for connection with one or a row of cubical units, as building blocks, for clamping, lifting, transfer, lowering and releasing, between different locations or station's,

l Ordinarily, as in the manufacture of such units,

asconcretebuilding blocks, cinder blocks, or the Iil e,whether air dried orkiln treated, they requireremoval for storage or shipment, and are ordinarily heavy, in weight.

The invention in one respect relates particularly to that type of block having one or more transverse-vertical core openings, now a matter of common practice and in extensive use.

It also involves raising and lowering means, suitably connected with an overhead transfer element, as a crane, preferably mounted on a wheeled carriage, for lateral shifting of the load, dependent onlocal conditions, as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings showing certain preferred constructions of the means utilized in the invention:

, Fig. 1 is a general view in elevation, of the installation.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the raising and lowering mechanism, as connected with one or a plurality of blocks.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view on the line III--III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the air ram and connections.

Fig. 5 is aplan view, partly in section, on the line VV of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is. an end view of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an isometric detail view of the sleeve.

Generally stated, the invention comprises a raising and lowering ram 2 subject to fluid pressure from any suitable supply line 3, suspended as at 4 from an operating crane 5, of well known construction. The ram is vertically movable around a rigid rod 6, suspended from the crane with suitable outward and inward travel thereon, and provided with a plunger or piston head 60, spaced below the top of the ram. The lower end of the. ram is connected by bolt 21 and a surrounding strap b, b, with a horizontal pressure supply and exhaust cylinder I, from which depends one or more of the block engaging grips A.

Ordinarily, a single such tool may be used for lifting a single block, in which case the attaching tool will be vin middle engagement with the block A and will grip it firmly under continuous pressure'from, the, supply .line 3, as hereinafter described.

The active element, or a plurality of such, is the automatically operative guiding and holding device A, adapted to be inserted into the core opening a of the block, for binding and holding engagement against opposite interior wall surfaces of the core opening. Such device is shown in the main construction, wherein four such are illustrated in connection with the main pressure supply and exhaust chamber 1, in communication with the control valves, is shown. It is illustrated in large detail construction, practically full size, in Figs. 4-7 inclusive.

, As therein shown, each such device comprises a transverse cylinder 9 connected with the supply and exhaust valve controlled conduit I by tubular connection 8 and communicating ports 0 and d. At one end cylinder 9 is provided with a fixed pressure contact shoe 9a, preferably faced with a light weld of steelite,,for long wearing frictional endurance.

At the opposite end is an outwardly movable plunger [0, also faced with a wear facing of steelite, or the like, and in operative connection, as by screw or bolt II, with piston l2, preferably having a leather washer l3. The piston and washer, normally in extended position, terminate inwardly with relation to the supply and exhaust ports 0 and d, communicating with supply and exhaust conduit I.

In retracted position, as in Figs. 4 and 5, plunger I0 is maintained in non-contacting position, with relation to the core surface, by the limit of expansion of a retracting spring I4, with suflicient clearance for insertion of the tool also as to the opposite head 9a.

Terminal guiding bearing and closing bushings l5 for the cylinder and plunger l0, secured as by welding, provide ample reinforcement at the operative end, and also resist spring compression upon outward movement of the plunger in making contact with the inner face of the core.

One important feature of the invention, assisting central downward movement of the tool, by its tapering edges I6 and rounded terminal I1, is the depending arrow point guide plate I8.

Such plate is either integral with or welded to the lower middle portion of cylinder 9, as at 19. It greatly assists placement of the tool in centrally localizing it upon lowering, and accurately positions the contacting opposite ends in true operative relation, either with one or a series of properly grouped blocks.

When thus lowered slightly below the upper surface of the block or blocks, supply of fluid pressure, as air, immediately effects contact by plunger I!) and oppositely acting head So, a minimum plan view Fig. 3.

Because of such Welded andslot engaging connection, the sleeve effectively protects the interior from entrance "of sand or other foreign matter.

Conduit I is provided with outwardly extending diverging supporting arms 22, welded or otherwise secured to the opposite sides of the conduit, and extending outwardly therefrom, provided with terminal hand grips 23.

Along side of hand grips 23 are pairs of pressure and exhaust levers 24 and 25, controlling pressure to and exhaust from the ramrespec-r tively, for raising and lowering, and at the other side are levers 26 and 21 controlling pressure to and exhaust from conduit 1 respectively, as in These valves are located at each end of a supporting en'd frame, as an angle iron 28. Such angle bar thus also provides for mounting connection with the valve triggers 24 'and 25 and 26 and Zlrespectively, whereby pressure and release'to and from ram 2, and to and from conduit 1, is readily controlled.

Ahigh pressure pipe 29 is suitably mounted across'thefrarn'e and is connected with pressure feed li'ne3.

Gperatively incirculation with pipe 29 is pressure feed valve 30 opened by finger lever or-trigger .24, and exhaust valve 3! from the ram operated by finger lever or trigger 25. At the other side is valve 32 operated by finger lever 26, admitting pressure to'conduit I, and exhaust valve 33 operated by finger lever 21, for releasing pressure from conduit I, and from the individual core face terminals 9a and ID of grips A.

Pressure feed valve 33 is connected with the upper portion of the ram, as shown, by pipe 30a. The-construction and its operation provides rapid and effective means for elevating and transferring one or more cored blocks, and depositing them at another location, and without injury.

By releasing lifting pressure from the ram, it and its suspended cylinder A, or several of such. is/ are lowered with the terminals 9a, [0, retracted.

into the core'or cores-of the load. The terminals.

are then extended to bear firmly against the opposite core face or faces, and the ram is then ele vated'and swung around to the delivery station,

as a truck, whereupon the ram is then lowered,

in placement of the load. The pressure is then exhausted from cylinder or cylinders A, retracting the terminals 9a, H), from contact, with renewal of lifting pressure on the ram, completing the service, with prompt repetition as desired.

The advantage of the method and means utilized resides in the facility in making gripping engagement with the inner faces of the core -more; groups ofside-by-sideblocks; two .or .more

4 such groups may be as readily engaged and transported, by merely providing a plurality of pressure applying and releasing conduits l and their grips A, with suitable supporting framework.

What I claim is:

1. A core engaging gripping device consisting of a cylinder having at one end an integral shoe, a spring retracted plunger at the other end, and a fluid pressure conduitcommunioating with the cylinder whereby to extend theplunger and the integral shoe into oppositely applied binding engagement with opposite core surfaces.

2. A gripping device as described for insertion into the core opening of a building block consisting of a cylinder having at one end an integral shoe and at'the opposite end a spring retracted "plunger, means providing for supply and exhaust to and from the cylinder, and a narrow width arrow shaped tapered guide plate extending downwardly from the cylinder facilitating initial insertion of the'gripping device.

3. Apparatus for handling'a plurality'of building blocks and the like having vertically extending'cored openings therein comprising a horizontal support including'a fluid pressure supply conduit, a vertically extending fluid pressure operated ram for raising and loweringsaid support, and a plurality of block handling devices depending from said support for vertical movement therewith to and from operative positions respectively in a cored opening of one" of the blocksto be handled, there being one of said devices for each block to be handled, each of said devices comprising a pair of shoes extensible relative to each other to positions engaged with the sides of the cored opening in which it is located, and fluid pressure means connected with said supply conduit for moving said shoes to their extended positions, and valve means controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure in said supply conduit and thereby the simultaneous operation of all of said handling devices.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 charac terized by each of said devices including a'fluid pressure motor having a cylinderrigidly secured to said support with its axis parallel thereto, one of said shoes being mounted on one end of said cylinder, and a piston'in said cylinder and having a part extending from the other end of said cylinder for mounting and 1 moving said other shoe.

5. Apparatus for handling a plurality of building blocks and the like having vertically extending coredopenings therein comprising alh'orizontal support including a fluid pressuresupply conduit, a vertically extendingifluid pressure operated ram forraising and lowering said support, and a plurality of block handling devices depend ing from said support for vertical movement therewith to and from operative positions respectively ina cored opening or one of the blocks to be handled, there being one of'said devices for each block to be handled, each of said devices comprising a pair of shoes extensible relative to each other to positions engaged with the sides of the cored opening in which it is located, and fluid pressure means connected with said supply conduit for moving: said shoes to their extended positions, valve means controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure'in said supply conduit and thereby the simultaneous operation of all of said handling devices, and other valve means controlling the operation of said ram and thereby'the raising and lowering movements of said support.

6. Apparatus as claimed in :claim -5= characterized by said support having a pair of spaced handles at one end thereof for manual engagement by an operator to guide the movement of said support and ram.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 characterized by each of said valve means having manually operable control parts mounted in a position adjacent one of said handles to enable the operator holding said handles to control the operation of both of said valve means.

8. Apparatus for handling a plurality of building blocks and the like having vertically extending cored openings therein comprising a, hori-. zontal support including a fluid pressure supply conduit, and a plurality of block handling devices depending from said support for vertical movement therewith to and from operative positions respectively in a cored opening of one of the blocks to be handled, there being one of said devices for each block to be handled, each of said devices comprising a pair of shoes extensible relative to each other to positions engaged with the sides of the cored opening in which it is located, and fluid pressure means connected with said supply conduit for moving said shoes to their extended positions, and valve means controlling -the' supply and exhaust of fluid pressure in said supply conduit and thereby the simultaneous operation of all of said handling devices.

9. In apparatus for handling building blocks and the like having cored openings therein, a handling device for insertion into a cored block opening and having a pair of shoes extensible relative to each other to and from positions in frictional holding engagement with opposite sides of the cored opening, and mounting and operating means for said shoes comprising a cylinder having an axis perpendicular to the axis of a cored opening into which it is inserted, one of said shoes being rigidly secured to one end of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder having a part projecting from the other end of said cylinder, the other of said shoes being connected to said part, and fluid pressure means for moving said part to an extended position with said shoes in frictional holding engagement with the sides of the opening in which said device has been in-v serted.

10. A core-engaging gripping device comprising a cylinder having a gripping shoe rigidly connected to one end thereof, a piston in said cylinder having a rod connected thereto and projecting from the other end of said cylinder, a gripping shoe on the projecting end of said rod, and a fluid pressure conduit communicating with said cylinder for delivering fluid pressure thereto to move said piston and thereby extend said shoes into oppositely applied binding engagement with opposite core surfaces.

11. A core-engaging gripping device for handling a plurality of building blocks and the like having core openings therein which comprises a support including a fluid pressure supply conduit, a, plurality of cylinders depending from said support, each of said cylinders respectively having a gripping shoe rigidly connected to one end thereof, piston therein with a connected rod projecting from the other end of each of said cylinders, and a gripping shoe on the projecting end of said rods, each of said cylinders being receivable in a cored opening of a building block to be handled, and connecting conduits for delivering fluid pressure from said supply conduit to said cylinders to extend the shoes of each cylinder into oppositely applied binding engagement with the core surfaces of the blocks in which they are received.

12. Apparatus for handling a pluarlity of building blocks and the like having vertically extending cored openings therein comprising a horizontal support including a fluid pressure supply conduit, and a plurality of block handling devices depending from said support for vertical movement therewith to and from operative positions respectively in a cored opening of one of the blocks to be handled, there being one of said devices for each block to be handled, each of said devices comprising a pair of shoes extensible relative to each other to positions engaged with the sides of the cored opening in which it is located, and a fluid pressure cylinder mounting said shoes and connected to said support, and connecting conduits for delivering fluid pressure from said supply conduit to said cylinders to extend the shoes mounted on each cylinder into their engaged positions.

ALBERT R. FALKNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 220,300 Morgan Oct. 7, 1879 423,548 Boyer Mar. 18, 1890- 584380 Knox June 22, 1897 1,036,755 Vest Aug. 27, 1912 1,203,586 Cowles Nov. 7, 1916 1,490,235 Smith et a1 Apr. 15, 1924 2,203,799 Shaffer June 11,1940 

